Help out an aspiring nurse?

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So, I'm a high school senior who is about to graduate, and I'm going to attend a community college for two years in nursing. Then I plan to take my NCLEX to become an RN. After getting my AA degree, I plan to move to Hawaii and continue my education at a 4year university to get my BSN. I plan to work as an RN in Hawaii while studying at a 4 year university, and I could maybe pay off my college expenses. Now here are my questions:

- What are some good nursing programs that I should apply to in Hawaii (4-year universities)?

- Is my educational/career path realistic? Any other nurses who have gone through my plan?

- What are the average salaries in Hawaii?

- Is is true that it may take longer than two years to get my BSN?

- Do hawaii students and out of state students get the same financial benefits and also job openings benefits?

***P.S. I'm from an island called Saipan (somewhere near Guam), so I'll be an out-of-state student for awhile.

THANK YOU SO MUCH IN ADVANCE!!!! :D

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Specializes in ER, Trauma ICU, CVICU.

Hello! I'm glad you are interested in nursing I'm going to answer the only questions you can't easily find answered on a simple google search.

-Yes the path is realistic. I was an ADN-BSN myself and think it is an excellent route.

-If you get your ADN with all the prerequisites, there are ADN-BSN programs that take less than one year. The prerequisites take the longest.

-In my opinion, the best ADN-BSN option is online learning while you start working. In that case, the universities in the area don't matter. But, its your choice.

Good luck.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

I'm not sure how ADN programs are where you're located, but here in the US, you have at least 2 years of prerequisites before you even start your nursing program, which is 2 years for your ADN and 2-3 for your BSN. This is the only "flaw" I can find in your plan. There are a lot of bridge programs, and as @sweetdreameRN said, many of them are online. If you work for a year with your ADN, you can establish residency, and you won't have to pay out-of-state tuition if you do it through a state school (I believe UH is the only one there, and I'm not sure if they have a bridge program- you can Google this).

Do you plan to do your ADN back home? Make sure that your licensure can transfer to Hawaii. Some states (I know California is notoriously bad, but others can be, too) have different requirements, and not all programs fulfill them, so even though you've passed the NCLEX and received your license somewhere, it may not be enough to let you work in some states. Do some research. :)

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

I suggest you check out the Hawaii forum for a more targeted response, the climate for working as a nurse in Hawaii, depending on the island and the cities.

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The place I'm in is a domesticated part of the US. And many students from the local community college I am going to have continued their education in Hawaii :) so I guess that wouldn't be a problem. Yes I plan to do my ADN back home. And then do my NCLEX, get licensed, and move out to Hawaii. I also heard that if you work at hospitals while studying to get your BSN, they help you pay your tuition?

By by the way, thanks everyone! :)

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Hello! I'm glad you are interested in nursing I'm going to answer the only questions you can't easily find answered on a simple google search.

-Yes the path is realistic. I was an ADN-BSN myself and think it is an excellent route.

-If you get your ADN with all the prerequisites, there are ADN-BSN programs that take less than one year. The prerequisites take the longest.

-In my opinion, the best ADN-BSN option is online learning while you start working. In that case, the universities in the area don't matter. But, its your choice.

Good luck.

Could ls you tell me your experience finishing your education online? Was it hard? Did you actually learn? Haha :p cuz I had a bad experience taking online classes. I wanna make sure that I excel in my nursing career.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

Some of those programs through hospitals where they pay for your education have gone away, since there is an abundance of nurses, and nurse jobs are hard to come by (be sure to check the job market in HI before you move- get something lined up!). Follow up with the hospitals themselves to find out if they offer this. Also, if you can, check in with some of the nurses who have taken the same path as you, and ask them the detailed questions. They can likely answer much better than most of the people on here, given your specific circumstances.

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Specializes in ICU.

You will not be able to get your RN in 2 years. Think around 3-4. You will have prereqs to do with any ADN program. Mine took about 3 semesters. Then you need to make sure you go to a school where credits will transfer and one that a license will transfer. It may be pointless to go to school in Guam for you to earn a license you can't use is Hawaii. I have seen people post that there are no nursing schools in Guam, but I have never looked for myself. Google is your friend.

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Oh no, I'm not going to nursing school in Guam. I'm going to Northern Marianas College, a community college in my place, Saipan. Guam and Saipan both offer a nursing program :) And thank you so much, I will look into the license thing.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

I'm not sure if you also saw, it's not 2 years total for the program, it's at least 4 because there are prerequisites. This is the degree plan for nursing at that college:

http://www.nmcnet.edu/media/academics/IDP_AS_nursing_27_JUN_2012.pdf

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Oh yeah! I have this paper too :) I talked to the academic advisor at the college and she said I could take summer and winter classes and I could be done within 2 1/2 years.

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Specializes in ICU.

Even if you take summer classes it is still going to take about 3 semesters to get your prereqs done and 4 semesters in the program. The program itself is 2 years. It's that way at every college. You absolutely will not be done in 2 1/2 years. That is what we are trying to tell you.

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